Luck's recovery, TD lunge cap critical drive

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck scores in the fourth quarter after recovering a fumble and diving into the end zone. The Indianapolis Colts hosted the Kansas City Chiefs at Lucas Oil Stadium Saturday, January 4, 2014.
(Photo: Mike Fender)

It was the 64-yard game-winner, an Andrew Luck bullet to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton that launched all those holiday-plumped fannies from all those seats, threatened to blow the top off Lucas Oil Stadium and made the Indianapolis Colts 45-44 winners Sunday evening.

It was the drive before the drive that made it possible.

The Colts had battled valiantly, hustling from a 38-10 third-quarter deficit to within 41-31. The Kansas City Chiefs were reeling, the Colts rolling and the building rocking but the situation was dire: First down at the Indianapolis 10, 14:40 to play.

They had come so far. They still had so far to go.

"We knew we were running out of time. We kept saying, 'Let's not waste a drive,' " right tackle Gosder Cherilus said after an AFC wild card playoff victory that ranks with the most dramatic moments in Colts history.

"We were chipping back into it," Luck said, "and to make it a one-score game was big."

Luck had thrown three interceptions — one clearly not his fault — and had earlier urged his teammates, "Stay with me. Stay with me."

Not now. Everyone was of a single mind and purpose.

Still, it was a drive that nearly foundered before it began. Running back Donald Brown charged into the middle for no gain. Luck missed on a short pass to wide receiver LaVon Brazill. Just like that it was third-and-10.

"I felt it hit my head and I was looking for the ball. I was, 'Where is it? Where is it?' and I saw Andrew pick it up," Satele said.

The man of the hour was the master of the moment.

"You revert back to playground," Luck said, "pick it, try and score."

Luck bulled through traffic and extended the football over the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown.

Grinned Brown: "Exactly how we drew it up."

It was 41-38 with 10:38 to play.

The defense yielded a rush of three quick first downs, then bowed up and held. Ryan Succop hit a 43-yard field goal to stretch the Chiefs' lead to 44-38 but the crowd of 63,551 sensed what the Colts knew.

"Go win the game for us," coach Chuck Pagano told Hilton before the offense took the field.

A first down put the Colts at the Indianapolis 36. Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton called Hilton's number and before Luck broke the huddle, he turned to his wee wide receiver.

"Just run," Luck said.

Hilton was the fastest man on the field. If there is one thing he can do, it's run.

He split Chiefs safeties Quintin Demps and Kendrick Lewis and left them trailing in his wake. Luck's tight spiral was perfect, the final yards of Hilton's 64-yard touchdown a stroll.

The guy no one could cover all day long finished with a bang.

"These are the playoffs, man," Hilton said. "Big time players step up in big-time games."

Email Star reporter Phil Richards at phil.richards@indystar.com and follow him on Twitter at @philrichards6.